Automatic switch-stand.



No. 747,200. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

G. L. MANSFIELD.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1903.

No. 747,200. PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

G. L. MANSFIELD.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH STAND.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.1 W r "MIN IIIIIIIII V/// UNITE Stars Patented December 15, 1903.

AUTOMATlC SW-lTCH- STAN n.

SPEGIFIGATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 747,200, dated December 15-, 1903.

Application filed April15,1903. serial No. 152,715. (to model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.- 7

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. MANSFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Au tomatic Switch-Stands, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to means for operating railroad-switches; and my invention relates to automatic switch-stands and to that class of switch-stands in which the operating-lever is moved through a vertical arc to turn a vertical switch-stand'shaft having a crank-arm that is connected with the switch-poin ts.

The object of my, invention is to provide a switch-stand in which the operating or hand lever after being moved one-half its throw will automatically accomplish the remainder of the throw and definitely and positively move the switch-points to one extreme position or the other.

The particular object of my invention is to dispense with the gears that are ordinarily used in automatic switch-stands and substitute cheaper and more durable straight-line parts or levers in place thereof. Another and special object of my invention is to provide a switch-stand which will oppose greater force against its operation from the switch-points than do the ordinary geared switch-stands, but which may thus be automatically operated without danger of its being broken.

My invention consists generally in a switchstand comprising a base or housing, in combination with a vertical switch-stand shaft mounted therein and provided with a suitable switch-point connection, a lever pivoted on said switch-stand shaft, and apivotal link extending between an intermediate portion of said lever and said base. In order to operate or rotate said switch-stand shaft and move the switch-points,it is necessary to both lift and swing said operating-lever. This may be done with case, although the lever is preferably weighted at its outer end. When the lever has been raised to its uppermost position, it will fall to the rest of its stroke and will be positively moved to its extreme opposite position by the action of the link, coupled on its ends.

with gravity. The positive full throw of the switch points is'thus insured. Obviously this switch stand is properly termed auto.-.

matic. It is also automatic in another way that is, at times when a locomotive or car passes through the switch while it is closed against such passage the wedging force of the wheelflanges upon the closed switchpoint is communicated to the switch-stand shaft and turns the same, thereby raising and swinging theoperating-lever against the opposition of said link. In this manner the lever will be thrown to the opposite position, and thereby eifect the full throwof the switchpoint to relieve it from further wheel-blows. My invention also consists in various details of construction and in combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a plan view of an automatic switch-stand embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation; Fig.4 is a vertical section substantially on the lines 00 w of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail between the link and the operating-lever, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the switch-stand shaft.

In the drawings, 2 2 represent the ties, 3 represents the main-track rail, 4: represents the movable switch-point, 5 represents the switch tie-rod, and 6 represents the switch connecting-rod. These are of the usual form and construction.

The base or housing 7 of the switch-stand is a convex hollow casting open at the bottom and provided with the large feet or. flanges 8 These flanges, as shown, are notched to receive the spikes by which the switch-stand is secured on the ties.

I 9 is the bottom strap of the base. This is preferably narrower than the base and is a casting having the end flanges 10, that are secured to the base by the bolt 11. The top of the base is provided with a central bearing 12, and the bottom strap is provided with a seat or step-bearing 13, that is preferably smaller than the bearing 12 and concentric therewith. The switch-stand shaft is held in these bearings. It is preferably an irregular metal casting in which the switch-stand shaft proper, the crank-arms, the operating-lever connection, and the target-shaft are combined in a single part. Thus 14 represents the switch-stand shaft, the lower end 15 of which is seated in the bearing 13, while the upper part 16 is made to fit the top bearing 12. Between these parts is the crank-arm 17, preferably bifurcated, as shown, to receive the ends 6 of the connecting-rod 6. The

crank-arm is in this way located between bearings. I preferably duplicate the crankarm 17 on theopposite side of the shaft, so that my switch-stand may be used with either a right or left hand switch connection. The portion 18of the shaft which is above the bearing 12 is rectangular in cross-section that is, it has flat sides to fit the bifurcated ends of the operating-lever. Above this portion the shaft may have any desired shape until the portion that is to bear the target is reached. From this point on the upper portion 19 of the shaft is rectangular in crosssection, affordingfiat' surfaces for the attachment of the target-vanes 20. The shaft is preferably hollow throughout, and in all cases I prefer to retain a rectangular recess 19 in the upper end of the shaft forthe reception of the lamp-plug 21, upon which the signal-lamp is placed. This construction enables me to fasten the lamp-plu g, which is always a separatelyfinished part, with one of the bolts or rivets 22 usedin securing the vanes 20 to the shaft. The connection between the rod 6 and the crank-arm is made by means of a pin 23. (See dotted lines, Fig. 4.) The hole in the lower part of the arm 17 is smaller than that in the upper part, and the pin is shouldered, so that it rests on the lower part of the arm and is kept in place by gravity. The pin is also held in place by a curved-surfaced rib 24, provided on the under surface of the top 7, and cannot become detached after once be ing put in place.

The operating-lever is preferably made in two partsone the bifurcated portion or fork 25, the other the lever extension 26, having a heavy weight 27 at its outer end. The sides 25 of the fork fit the flat sides of the portion 18 v of the switch-stand shaft. The pi votal connection is made by heavy pin 28, which is preferably secured in the fork. (See small pin 29.) The outer end of the fork 25is provided with a socket 30 to receive the reduced end 31 of the lever-arm 26. 32 is the pin by which said arm 26 is fastened in the fork 25. The fork is provided with a recess 33 in its under side to receive the end of the link 34.. The fork is preferably strengthened by the raised or bridging portion 33 above the recess 33. The link 34 is journaled on the rethe link is thus provided with a divided bearing and can never cramp therein or upon the operating-lever. It will be noted that the link constitutes the base of a triangle,and the pivotal axes of said link are coincident with the sides of the triangle. The relations of the parts are thus maintained, and are the same in all positions of the operating-lever. Frictional resistance to the movement of the lever is thus minimized, and sliding movement between the parts is avoided. The track-rails limit and fix the movement of the switch-points,and these in turn determine the movement of the switch-stand arm and shaft. The dimensions of the switch-stand are determined in accordance with these facts, and the arrangeme'ntis such that the switch-stand shaft,and hence the operating-lever, reach the limit of throw before the operating-lever has fallen to the horizontal plane of the lower pivot of the link. The operating-lever, therefore,never drops to a dead-center position and may always be moved by torque on the shaft, notwithstanding the presence of the link. In constructing the stand the ears 35 are preferably placed below the pivot of the operating-lever on the shaft. This arrangement allows the operating-lever to fall to an almost horizontal position, in which position its weight is most effective. I preferably make a drop 26 in the lever, so that the weight may be low down over the tie in both positions. If the connecting-rod or other part breaks, the weight 27 will drop onto the tie and prevent the striking of the fork on the top of the base.

In operating my switch-stand the switchman takes hold of the handle at the end of the weight 27and lifts the same. As he lifts the link 34 causes the throw or rotation of the lever about the axis of the switch-stand shaft, thus turning the shaft to partially move the switch-points. When the weighted end of the lever has been raised to the highest and mid-position and slightly beyond, the switch man may let go of the lever, and it will fall of its own weight, and being forced to the rest of its stroke by the action of the link 34: will effect the complete throw of the switchpoints.

The functions and operations of the several parts going to make up my switch-stand will be clearly understood from the foregoing and need not be repeated.

Numerous modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and I therefore do not confine my invention to the specific constructions herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The switch-stand comprising a base or housing, in combination, with a switch-stand shaft journaled therein and having a suitable switch connection, an operating-lever pivotally connected with said shaft and a pivotal link extending between an intermediate point on said lever and said base, substantially as described.

2. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base or housing, a vertical switch-stand shaft journaled therein and having a suitable switch-operating connection and an operatinglever connected with said shaft, in combination, with a movement enforcing and prescribing link pivotally connecting said lever and said base, substantially as described.

3. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base and switch-stand shaft, in combination, with a shaft-operating lever pivotally coupled to said shaft, the link and pivotal fastenings for said link on said base and said lever, respectivley, substantially as described.

4. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base, in combination, with the vertical switch-stand shaft, the normally horizontal lever pivotally connected to said shaft and the link, said base, link and lever forming a triangle having its apex in said shaft, substantially as described.

5. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base, in combination, with a vertical switchstand shaft having a suitable switch connec:

tion, the operating-lever pivotally coupled to said shaft above said base, for turning said shaft and the link pivotally joining said lever and base, said link being pivoted on the base at a point below the lever and shaft pivot, substantially as described. I

6. The switch-stand comprising the base, in combination, with the switch-stand shaft, the operating-lever pivotally coupled to said switch-stand shaft, the link pivotally connecting said lever and base and the pivotal axes of said link intersecting at the common point of said shaft and lever, substantially as described.

7. The switch-stand comprising the base, in combination, with the switch-stand shaft having a rectangular upper portion containing a rectangular opening, the lamp-plug arranged in said opening, the target-vanes, the bolt or rivet for securing said plug and said vanes to said shaft and suitable means for operating said shaft, substantially as de scribed.

8. The switch-stand shaft having a rectangular recess in its upper end, the lamp-plug arranged in said recess, the target-vanes and the bolts or rivets for securing said vanes,

the upper bolt also securing said plug, substantially as described.

9. The switch-stand comprising the base, in combination with the cross-strap, the bearings provided in said base and said strap, the cast-metal switch-stand shaft held in said bearings, said shaft having a crank-arm within said base and being provided with a flatsided portion above said base, the operatinglever pivoted on said shaft, the link journaled on said operating-lever and the ears or lugs on said base wherein the other end of the link is pivoted, substantially as described.

10. The switch-stand comprising the base, in combination, with a switch-stand lever, the operating lever pivoted on said shaft above said base and comprising a socketed portion and an extension secured therein, the recess in the lower part of said socketed portion, the link having its end arranged in said recess and journaled on said extension and a suitable pivot on said base for said link, substantially as described.

11. The switch-stand comprising the vertical switch-stand shaft, in combination, with the base, the crank-arm on said shaft below said base, the connecting-rod, the vertical pin coupling said arm and rod, the curvedsurfaced rib depending from said base and preventing the displacement of said pin and means for operating said shaft, substantially as described.

12. The switch-stand comprising the low base made in two parts, in combination, with the switch-stand shaft seated in the lower part, but having a journal-bearing in the up per part of said base, the right and left crankarms integral with said shaft, within said base, the operating lever pivoted on said shaft and means limiting the movement of said lever, substantially as described.

13. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base or housing, in combination, with a switch-stand shaft having vertical bearings in said housing, said shaft being of irregular cross-section and being hollow throughout, the switch-arm being integral with said shaft and the shaft-operating device, substantially as described.

14. The switch-stand comprising a suitable base or housing provided with vertical bearings, in combination, with the cast metal switch-stand shaft held in said bearings, said shaft being hollow throughout and having walls of substantially uniform thickness, the target provided upon the upper end of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft and a suitable switch connection, substantially as described.

15. The switch-stand comprisinga suitable base or housing, having vertical hearings, in combination, with the switch-stand shaft of cast metal, comprising a large portion within said housing and a rectangular upper portion above said housing, said shaft being hollow throughout, with walls of substantially uniform thickness, a target provided upon said upper portion of the shaft, means for rotating the shaft, and a suitable switch connec- 5 tion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand,this 10th day of April, 1903, at Ohicago, 000k county, Illinois, in of two witnesses.

G. G. HAWLEY, GEORGE H. KELLY.

the presence 

